Skip to main content

Military Health System

Test of Sitewide Banner

This is a test of the sitewide banner capability. In the case of an emergency, site visitors would be able to visit the news page for addition information.

COVID-19 presents challenges to heart health, physical fitness

Image of Four military personnel, wearing masks, running on a track. U.S. Coast Guard recruits from company Romeo-199 participate in a Jan. 8 run program on the track at U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey, as part of their modified training schedule due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Navy Seaman Josalyn Brown.)

A healthy heart is a prerequisite for a fully trained combatant or a fit beneficiary. Without a healthy heart, a soldier cannot expect to complete tasks such as loading 155 mm rounds onto a bustle rack, or a beneficiary may huff and puff going up stairs.

"A heart at rest stays at rest, while a heart in motion stays in motion, to paraphrase the old axiom," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Olamide Oladipo, chief of cardiology at the Navy Medical Center-San Diego (NMC-SD).

Due to on-again, off-againshutdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall health of both military personnel and beneficiaries has taken a hit over the last year, he noted. A more sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and, therefore, death.

One way the military is addressing this issue is through the Aging Warrior study, which intends to look at cardiovascular risks in men 40 and older and women 52–55 with one risk factor for cardiac disease, such as hypertension, Oladipo explained. Following a CT scan, study participants will receive preventative medication or other interventions if they show early signs of cardiac atherosclerosis (a narrowing or blockage of the heart vessels).

As to fitness, NMC-SD has “adopted more of a holistic approach; we treat the whole person” among active-duty personnel and beneficiaries, said Melissa Palacios, a nurse and head of the Health and Wellness Department at NMC-SD’s Naval Medical Readiness Training Command. “We’re looking at concomitant diagnoses that affect a person’s heart health,” such as diabetes, sleep apnea, obesity, stress, PTSD.

“We do this though more virtual classes, group-based exercise programming, fitness trackers and apps that help with heart rate monitoring, food intake, medication, and sleep hygiene, for example,” she said, also noting the negative impact COVID-19 has had on the base’s effectiveness in physical training and meeting beneficiaries’ fitness needs.

“Getting moving can have a profound impact on lowering blood pressure, strengthening muscles, controlling weight, lowering stress, and reducing inflammation, therefore decreasing risk for heart disease,” Palacios said. “We encourage our active-duty members and beneficiaries to not only participate in aerobic activities such a swimming, dancing, cycling, brisk walking or cycling but also in identifying opportunities in their everyday lives to intentionally become more physically active such as taking the stairs.”

The ideas behind fitness training also have changed in the Army. At Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri, unit physical training “used to be very focused on the Army Physical Fitness Test events (pushups, sit-ups, and running),” said Army Maj. Brett Dougherty, director, Physical Performance Service Line, General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital. “However, over the last few years, that focus has slowly changed to incorporate more resistance training, specifically functional lifting, and that change accelerated with the introduction of the Army Combat Fitness Test that looks at the body more functionally.”

Functional lifting are exercises that help troops perform everyday activities more easily, such as changing heavy tires.

The Army follows the October 2020 FM 7-22 guidance on fitness and physical performance, which includes five domains of combat physical fitness: muscular strength, muscular endurance, aerobic endurance, explosive power, and anaerobic endurance. The guidance lays out exercises, stretches, progressions, and sample schedules of how to train for Army fitness tests and overall fitness. It includes aerobic exercise, strength and resistance training, agility, flexibility, and balance.

FM 7-22 also gives guidance on nutrition, sleep hygiene, mental wellness, and the overall well-being of soldiers, all factors integral to overall heart health.

Physical fitness is therefore much more than laps run, push-ups done, crunches crunched. It’s a holistic framework of both physical and mental fitness that means being able to exercise while avoiding injury and enjoying a longer life span. And, when it comes to physical fitness, a healthy heart is paramount.

You also may be interested in...

Love Your Heart: Don't Smoke

Infographic
1/12/2023
Love Your Heart: Don't Smoke

Smoking can increase your risk for heart disease. Talk to your provider on ways to lower your risk and prioritize your heart health: www.health.mil/hearthealth #HeartHealth

Love Your Heart: Prevent Heart Disease

Infographic
1/12/2023
Love Your Heart: Prevent Heart Disease

A healthy heart is critical, particularly to service members facing high-stress jobs throughout their careers. Take steps to prevent heart disease: https://health.mil/News/Articles/2021/02/24/Proper-diet-sleep-exercise-and-joy-key-to-a-heart-health #HeartHealth

Love Your Heart Healthy: Food and Drinks

Infographic
1/12/2023
Love Your Heart: Choose Healthy Foods and Drinks

Eating a balanced, healthy diet, low in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat can lower your risk for heart disease. www.health.mil/Nutrition #HeartHealth

Love Your Heart: Healthy Weight

Infographic
1/12/2023
Love Your Heart: Healthy Weight

Keepings a healthy weight can lower your risk for heart disease. Learn more on how a healthy way is good for your heart: https://health.mil/News/Articles/2022/01/14/Six-Immediate-Health-Benefits-You-Will-See-If-You-Lose-a-Little-Weight #HeartHealth

Love Your Heart: Physical Activity

Infographic
1/12/2023
Love Your Heart: Get Regular Physical Activity

Get moving! Try and get at least 2.5 hours a week of physical activity to keep your heart healthy. https://health.mil/Exercise #HeartHealth #Readiness

National Wear Red Day

Infographic
12/30/2022
National Wear Red Day

Today is National Wear Red Day! Show your support for heart disease awareness by wearing red and learning more about heart health here: https://health.mil/HeartHealth #WearRed #HeathHealthMonth

Heart Health Month

Infographic
12/30/2022
Heart Health Month

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the U.S. of both men and women. Learn more about your risks and where to get care: https://health.mil/HeartHealth #HeartHealthMonth

PTSD Awareness Month - Treatment Works

Infographic
6/1/2022
PTSD - Treatment Works Infographic

Experiencing #PTSD can make one feel hopeless. Fortunately, there are strategies and treatments that WORK to relieve PTSD symptoms. Don’t wait, seek help today. #PTSDAwarenessMonth www.health.mil/ptsd

PTSD Awareness Month - PTSD Awareness

Infographic
6/1/2022
Not Sure if You Have PTSD?

Unfortunately, experiencing trauma is not uncommon. If you’ve experienced trauma and notice symptoms of #PTSD, don’t hesitate to ask your primary care provider about possible treatment. #TreatmentWorks #PTSDAwarenessMonth www.health.mil/ptsd

Holiday Food Safety Tip: Cook Food Thoroughly

Infographic
5/25/2022
Infographic: Holiday Food Safety Tip #3, Cook Food Thoroughly

Use a thermometer to ensure your food is cooked to the right minimum internal temperature.

Holiday Food Safety Tip: Keep Cold Food Cold

Infographic
5/25/2022
Food Safety Tip: Keep cold food cold

Don't let your cold dishes sit out on a counter for more than 2 hours. Keep it chilled at 40 degrees or less.

Holiday Food Safety Tip: Wash Your Hands

Infographic
5/25/2022
Infographic: Holiday Food Safety Tip - Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands often is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of bacteria.

COVID-19 Booster Shots

Infographic
8/27/2021
If you have an immune system that is moderately to severely compromised, the CDC recommends you may receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). This would be at least 4 weeks after your second dose.

If you have an immune system that is moderately to severely compromised, the CDC recommends you may receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). This would be at least 4 weeks after your second dose.

Mask Guidance for Department of Defense Facilities

Infographic
7/30/2021
In accordance with CDC guidance, the Department of Defense (DOD) requires all Service members, Federal employees, onsite contractor employees, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask in all indoor DOD facilities.   If you are not vaccinated, continue to physically distance consistent with applicable CDC and DOD Force Health Protection Guidance.

In accordance with CDC guidance, the Department of Defense (DOD) requires all Service members, Federal employees, onsite contractor employees, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask in all indoor DOD facilities. If you are not vaccinated, continue to physically distance consistent with applicable CDC and DOD Force Health Protection Guidance.

COVID-19 Vaccination Card Second Shot

Infographic
5/27/2021
Graphic saying that keeping track of your vaccination card is important. Includes a helpful tips section, a link to www.tricare.mil/covidvaccine, and what to do when you didn’t get your vaccination card or don’t have a copy. The TRICARE logo is on the bottom right of the page.

Keep track of your vaccination card. Tips include keeping your card on you and taking a picture of it as a backup copy.

Page 1 of 2 , showing items 1 - 15
First < 1 2 > Last 
Refine your search
Last Updated: December 28, 2022
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery